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The project is funded by Hertfordshire Local Enterprise (HLE) to the tune of £6.5 million and it is likely Veolia, the developers behind the incinerator plans, will contribute Section 106 monies.

These plans are separate to plans submitted for the incinerator and the county council has been working with Broxbourne Borough Council for a solution to the bridge since 2006.

“At the end of the day access needs to be improved"

Since the Secretary of State called in the plans, the county council no longer has the final say on the incinerator’s approval but did vote in its favour on December 20 last year.

County and borough councillor for Hoddesdon, Tim Hutchings, told the Mercury it is “certainly a coincidence” officers are finally pushing forward with these plans just weeks after the vote.

Nonetheless, he welcomed the plans, saying: “At the end of the day access needs to be improved.

“We have been asking for it for years, long before the incinerator proposal.”

The road over the bridge is considered too narrow and it is difficult for two HGVs to pass.

It is difficult for two heavy goods vehicles to pass

Veolia estimates 268 daily movements of HGVs once the incinerator is operational.

The footway is also narrow and there is no provision for cyclists.

Traffic assessments completed as part of officers’ evaluation of the incinerator plans last year predict traffic will increase by almost exactly the same level with or without the incinerator by 2021.

Out of five key junctions in Essex Road, set out in the interactive map below, three are set to either reach near full traffic capacity or far exceed it.

Road Capacity Assessment Interactive Map

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The junction at Dinant Link Road and Amwell Street is set to increase to a little less than 20 per cent over capacity by 2021, while Ware Road, Duke Street and Amwell Street will see a 30 per cent increase.

In Essex Road specifically, there are 12,521 daily movements, which is expected to rise by 203 movements.

The New River Bridge is regularly used by heavy goods vehicles

The report recommends a new access road is built over Woolens Brook and the New River, south of the existing road.

Construction could be completed by the end of 2020, although a planning application must be submitted by the end of summer this year to meet this timescale.

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Following a consultation period, solutions have been suggested to seven key issues:

1) Improved crossing for pedestrians and cyclists at the eastern and western ends of the new access road

Solution – signal-controlled pedestrian and cycle crossings at both ends of the scheme.

2) Drivers keeping to their lanes when going round the roundabout of Essex Road, Dinant Link Road and Charlton Way

Solution – a review of signing and lining on the approach to the new link road.

3) Long queues exiting Essex Road onto the roundabout

Solution - The new access road will have two lanes approaching the roundabout (there is just one right now). While this is not expected to remove all queues on Essex Road, initial junction modelling shows that this will significantly reduce queues, according to the report.

Detailed information on the transport implications and benefits of the proposed development will be included in a Transport Statement to support the planning application.

The new access road would have two lanes approaching the roundabout

4) Environmental impact of the new river bridge scheme

The report states a “full suite of environmental surveys will be undertaken to identify any impacts and required mitigation measures”.

The results of the above assessments will be provided as part of the planning application.

5) Impacts of construction on the travelling public and local businesses

The county council has now sought early involvement from a contractor in the development of the design to identify suitable construction methods that will reduce impact on the travelling public.

6) Traffic congestion on Essex Road caused by the traffic signals at its junction with Pindar Road and Bingley Road

The report states: “This issue will be considered within the wider transport study being jointly commissioned by the county council and Broxbourne Borough Council, with a view to identifying a solution to the congestion at this junction that complements the New River Bridge scheme.”

7) The proposed Energy from Waste Facility at Ratty’s Lane, Hoddesdon

This was a sore point for many people.

The report states: “Members of the public expressed a strong view that the delivery of the New River Bridge scheme is now being progressed to facilitate the energy from waste facility proposed at Ratty’s Lane.

“The delivery of the New River Bridge scheme is independent of the proposal at Ratty’s Lane.

“This scheme is funded through a combination of LEP and existing funds held from other developments within the area.

“While the current highways response to the Ratty’s Lane planning application does seek funds towards a list of transport improvements in the area, including the New River Bridge, it should be noted that the delivery of the New River Bridge scheme is not identified as a highways requirement of the Ratty’s Lane application.”

The matter will be discussed by councillors at 10am at County Hall on Wednesday, January 31.